Apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product for the preparation of a beverage

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of beverages includes a first feeder group and a second feeder group. The first feeder group is of a first film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of polylactic acid (PLA), and a first rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the first carousel, to realise a pod made of PLA, containing internally thereof a product for preparation of a beverage. The second feeder group is of a second film made of a biodegradable material, in particular a film of Ecoralene, and a second rotary carousel, configured, together with a series of work stations associated to the second carousel, to realise an Ecoralene cladding of the pod to obtain a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of a beverage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning thepackaging of products for the preparation of hot and/or cold beverages,such as for example coffee, tea, malted drinks, herbal teas, infusions,etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Products for the preparation of beverages are usually in a granular,powder, lyophilised or ground form, or finely chopped herbs, so they areusually predisposed internally of relative packaging which have to besealed to safeguard the properties, taste and flavours thereof.

The sealed packages are then inserted by the user into special automaticmachines for dispensing the beverage.

Various types and packages are known that are utilised for containingthe products for the preparation of beverages.

A particular type of packaging for preparation of a beverage comprises apod, containing the product for preparation of the beverage, which isclosed and sealed inside an external cladding.

The pod is made of a biodegradable material, such as for examplepolylactic acid (PLA), and comprises a hollow body, having a base, forexample circular, and lateral walls, for example a cylindrical wall,internally of which the product for the preparation of the beverage ispredisposed, and a closing cover applied and fixed to the body.

The pod, thus-formed, before being clad with a cladding material toobtain the final package, can then be compressed and compacted, forexample with the use of a sonotrode.

The cladding materials used for cladding the pod, and for the realisingof the final package, are instead of the non-biodegradable type, such asfor example a multilayer aluminium sheet.

A known method for realising a packaging of products for preparation ofbeverages comprises, first, realising the pod using a biodegradablematerial, and then cladding the pod using a non-biodegradable material,thus cladding the pod using a non-biodegradable material.

To realise the pod, a first sheet is unwound and cut from a first reelof a film of io biodegradable material, such as for example PLA(polylactic acid) and then a second sheet is unwound and cut from asecond reel of a film of biodegradable material, such as for example PLA(polylactic acid).

Cuts are made in the first sheet of biodegradable material in such a wayas to obtain a series of first pieces of biodegradable material; forexample the cuts are made in such a way as to obtain a series of firstpieces having a circular shape.

The cuts are made in such a way that the first pieces of biodegradablematerial have a diameter that is such that, for each thereof, by foldingan external circular portion with respect to an internal circularportion, a hollow body can be obtained that has a base wall and alateral cylindrical wall.

Cuts are made in the second sheet of biodegradable material in such away as to obtain a series of second pieces of biodegradable materialhaving a circular shape having a sufficient diameter for being appliedto close the hollow bodies obtained following the folding of the firstpieces.

Once the first pieces of biodegradable material have been folded to formthe hollow bodies, a step of filling the hollow bodies is carried outwith the products for the preparation of beverages, and then a step ofapplication of the second pieces of biodegradable material to close thehollow bodies, and lastly a step of fixing, for example by heat-welding,the second pieces to the hollow bodies. In this way pods are obtainedthat contain internally thereof a product for preparation of a beverage.

A final step may be carried out in which the pods are compacted tocompress, by compacting, the product for the preparation of thebeverage. At the same time, or following the above-described steps, afirst sheet of cladding is unwound and cut from a first reel of a filmof non-biodegradable material (such as for example an aluminiummulti-layer material) and a second sheet of cladding is in turn unwoundand cut from a second reel of a film of non-biodegradable material (suchas for example an aluminium multi-layer material). The two sheets ofnon-biodegradable material are used to realise the cladding of the podin the following way.

A first sheet of cladding is positioned above the centring organs, whichdefine predetermined positions in which the pods must be positionedabove the first sheet of cladding.

The pods are positioned above the first sheet of cladding, at thepredetermined positions defined by the centring organs, and then thesecond sheet of cladding is positioned above the pods.

A plurality of heat-forming and heat-welding operations are then carriedout on each of the pods interposed between the two sheets of claddingmaterial. In particular, the heat-welding is carried out in such a waythat the parts of the two sheets of cladding that are located above andbelow the pods are heat-welded to one another to form a heat-weldedportion that surrounds the pods.

The two sheets are then subjected to cutting operations in such a way asto carry out circular cuts externally of the heat-welded circularportions, thus obtaining the final circular-shaped packagings whichenclose internally thereof the pods containing the products for thepreparation of a beverage.

The above-described operations for realising the packaging of theproducts for the preparation of beverages do not create any particularissues, in particular the carrying out of the steps of heat-forming,heat-welding and cutting of the two cladding sheets in non-biodegradablematerial, as they are sufficiently rigid not to be subject todeformations during the operations of heat-welding and cutting.

The final packages obtained therefore have a substantially uniformshape, with the pod substantially perfectly centred, with the outlineswell-defined and therefore appealing from the aesthetic point of view.

In recent times, for various reasons, primarily to guarantee anecological elimination of the packages once they have been used for thepreparation of beverages, the need to have packages of products for thepreparation of beverages that are entirely biodegradable has becomeincreasingly pressing, i.e. packages where not only the pod but also thecladding of the pod are made of biodegradable material.

A type of biodegradable material that can be used as a cladding for thepods is constituted by Ecoralene, i.e. a coupled film based onbiodegradable material and compostable materials.

In particular Ecoralene is constituted by a high-barrier outer filmbased on compostable biodegradable cellulose and by an inner film basedon a biopolymer of vegetable origin that is biodegradable andcompostable. However problems have emerged related to theabove-described steps of heat-welding and cutting when using sheets ofEcoralene for realising the cladding of the pods.

In fact, the tensions that are created on the sheets of Ecoralene,during the heat-welding step can cause a relative displacement betweenthe portions of the two sheets, which must be reciprocally heat-welded,and the pods interposed between them, and thus can lead to obtainingnon-optimal final packages, as the pods will not be perfectly centred.

Further, the tension to which the sheets of Ecoralene are subjected,following the application of heat during heat-welding, are of variousnatures as concern the outer film and the inner film, and therefore canlead to creasing and streaking, with a consequent impact on theaesthetic appeal of the final packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a new methodfor realising an apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging ofproducts for preparation of beverages, able to obviate the drawbacks ofthe prior art described in the foregoing.

In particular, an aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus whichenables realising packages of products for the preparation of beverageswhich, following use, are entirely biodegradable, concerning both thepod and the relative cladding, and which at the same time provide anoptimal shape from both the structural and the aesthetic point of view.

Further, an aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus ableto realise biodegradable packages containing a varied type of productsfor preparation of beverages, such as products in powder, granular,lyophilised or ground products, or in the form of chopped herbs, andtherefore biodegradable packages utilisable for preparing various typesof beverages, and not only coffee, tea, but also herbal teas, infusions,etc.

The above aims are attained in accordance with the contents of theclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus forrealising a biodegradable packaging of products for preparation ofbeverages, proposed by the present invention, will be described in thefollowing with reference to the appended tables of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of the invention in itsentirety;

figures from 2A to 2H are schematic views of a first feeder and cuttinggroup, for cutting at least a first circular piece and a second circularpiece from a first film of biodegradable material, in particularpolylactic acid (PLA), utilisable by the apparatus for realising a podcontaining a product for preparation of a beverage;

figures from 3A to 3H illustrate, in relative schematic views, a secondfeeder and cutting group, for cutting at least a third circular pieceand a fourth circular piece from a second film of biodegradablematerial, in particular Ecoralene, utilisable by the apparatus forrealising a cladding of a pod containing a product for preparation of abeverage for obtaining the final package;

FIG. 4 illustrates detail K1 of FIG. 1 in larger scale better toevidence the characteristics of some significant components of theapparatus of the invention;

figures from 4A to 4E illustrate, in relative schematic views,collection of the first circular piece made of PLA and the secondcircular piece made of PLA from a first feeder and cutting group and thetransfer thereof on the components illustrated in FIG. 4 , at a workstation of the apparatus;

figures from 5A to 50 illustrate, in relative schematic views, apossible operating sequence for folding the first circular piece made ofPLA and the formation of a hollow body for containing a product forpreparation of a beverage at a work station of the apparatus of theapparatus, in which FIG. 5C schematically illustrates in a plan view,and a frontal view in section components of the apparatus used forfolding the first circular piece made of PLA and the formation of thehollow body, FIG. 5F illustrates a particular step of the folding of thefirst circular piece made of PLA, FIG. 51 illustrates the shape of thehollow body in a folding step of the first circular piece made of PLAand FIG. 50 illustrates the final shape obtained for the hollow body;

figures from 6A to 6D illustrate, in relative schematic views, apossible operating sequence for inserting and dosing a product forpreparation of a beverage internally of the hollow body obtained fromthe folding of the first circular piece made of PLA at a work station ofthe apparatus;

figures from 7A to 7B illustrate, in respective schematic views, apossible operating sequence for carrying out an eventual precompressionof the product inserted into the hollow body;

figures from 8A to 8H illustrate, in respective schematic views, apossible operating sequence that can be carried out for folding bypleating of the upper portion of the lateral wall of the hollow bodyabove the product contained in the hollow body so as to form a pleatedcrown above the product and for application, with spot pre-welding, ofthe second circular piece made of PLA above the pleated crown to form aclosing cover and close the hollow body and to obtain a pod containingthe product for preparation of a beverage, at a work station of theapparatus, in which FIG. 8C schematically illustrates and in aperspective view a component used for carrying out the spot pre-welding,FIG. 8G illustrates, in a perspective view the hollow body containingthe product for preparing the beverage with the pleated crown foldedabove the product, while FIG. 8H illustrates the pod obtained;

figures from 9A to 9B, and from 9C to 9D illustrate, in respectiveschematic views, two possible ways of carrying out an eventualcompacting of the pod;

FIG. 10A illustrates detail K2 of FIG. 1 in larger scale in order betterto evidence the characteristics of some significant components of theapparatus of the invention;

figures from 10B to 10E illustrate, in relative schematic views, thecollecting of the third circular piece made of Ecoralene and the fourthcircular piece made of Ecoralene from the second feeder and cuttinggroup and the transfer thereof with extrusion onto the componentsillustrated in FIG. 10A, at a work station of the apparatus;

figures from 11A to 11B illustrate, in relative schematic views, thesteps of heat-forming the third circular piece made of Ecoralene and thefourth circular piece made of Ecoralene to form a first valve-shapedelement and a second valve-shaped element, at a work station of theapparatus;

figures from 12A to 12D illustrate, in relative schematic views, thesteps of transferring the pod and positioning the pod in the firstvalve-shaped element and the positioning of the second valve-shapedelement above the first valve-shaped element to cover the pod, at a workstation of the apparatus;

figures from 13A to 13B illustrate, in relative schematic views, stepsfor carrying out a spot pre-welding between the first valve-shapedelement and the second valve-shaped element, at a work station of theapparatus, while FIGS. 13C and 13D show components of the apparatus usedfor the pre-welding operations;

figures from 14A to 14D and from 14E to 14H illustrate, in respectiveschematic views, two possible ways of carrying out a ring weldingbetween the first valve-shaped element and the second valve-shapedelement, in order to seal them to one another and seal the podinternally thereof, at a work station of the apparatus, in which infigures from 14A to 14D the ring welding is carried out internally of acontrolled-atmosphere environment with a preparative aspirating ofoxygen and injection of inert gas;

figures from 15A to 15B illustrate, in respective schematic views, stepsfor carrying out a final heat-welding between the first valve-shapedelement and the second valve-shaped element so as to obtain abiodegradable packaging sealed internally containing the pod with theproduct for preparation of a beverage for obtaining a beverage, at awork station of the apparatus; FIG. 15C illustrates, in a schematic planview, a step of checking the biodegradable packaging;

figures from 16A to 16E illustrate, in respective schematic views,gripping steps of the biodegradable packaging and transfer of thebiodegradable packaging above an outlet conveyor means, at a workstation of the apparatus;

FIG. 17 illustrates, in a schematic perspective view, a work station ofthe apparatus at which any working residues of the parts made of PLA areaspirated and the cleaning operations of the significant components asin FIG. 4 are carried out;

FIG. 18 illustrates, in a schematic perspective view, a further workstation of the apparatus at which any defective biodegradable packagesnot transferred onto the outlet conveyor means are collected andcleaning operations of the significant components of FIG. 10A.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the appended tables of drawings, reference numeral(100) denotes the apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of aproduct for preparation of beverages, object of the present invention,in its entirety.

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a plan view, the overall layout of the apparatus(100) for which some significant components have been illustrated, whilethe relative work stations for carrying out the various steps ofrealising a pod (A) made of a biodegradable material, containing aproduct for preparation of a beverage, such as polylactic acid (PLA),and a cladding thereof with a biodegradable material, such as Ecoralene,have been illustrated only schematically by relative numberedrectangles.

The special characteristics of the various work stations of theapparatus have instead been illustrated in detail in the remainingfigures. With reference to FIG. 1 , the apparatus (100) of theinvention, in a general aspect thereof, comprises the followingcombination of characteristics.

It comprises:

a first feeder group (A1) of a first film made of a biodegradablematerial, in particular polylactic acid (PLA), and a first rotarycarousel (G1), destined, together with a series of work stationsassociated to the first carousel (G1), to realise a pod made ofpolylactic acid (PLA), containing internally thereof a product (P) forpreparation of a beverage;

a second feeder group (A2) of a second film made of a biodegradablematerial, in particular Ecoralene, and a second rotary carousel (G2),destined, together with a series of work stations associated to thesecond carousel (G2), to realise an Ecoralene cladding of the pod toobtain a biodegradable packaging of a product for preparation of abeverage.

In greater detail, the first feeder group (A1) is configured for anddirected at unwinding a first film (M1) of biodegradable material, inparticular, as mentioned, a first film made of polylactic acid, from afirst reel (B1) of biodegradable material and for cutting the first film(M1) so as to obtain a first sheet (F1), and comprising first cuttingmeans (T1) configured and activatable to cut the first sheet (F1) so asto obtain at least a first circular piece (S1) and at least a secondcircular piece (S2), wherein the at least a first circular piece (S1)has a greater diameter than the at least a second circular piece (S2)and has dimensions that are such as to enable the relative foldingthereof in order to form a hollow body (C) having a circular base (CB)and a lateral wall (CL).

The first feeder group (A1) is configured in such a way as to positionthe first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2) cut inthe first sheet (F1) at a first collecting position (C1) (for examplefigures from 2A to 2H illustrate a possible preferred but not exclusiveembodiment of the first feeder group (A1) which, as it is not exclusive,will be described in more detail in the following part of the presentdescription, once the essential aspects of the invention have beenrevealed).

The first rotary carousel (G1) is configured in such a way as to beactivatable in rotation about a first vertical rotation axis (V1),comprising a first series of plates (1) angularly arranged with respectto one another about the first vertical axis of rotation (V1), whereineach plate (1) comprises a first support (11), comprising suction holes(12), configured to receive and retain, by suction, the first circularpiece (S1), and a second support (13), comprising suction holes (14),configured to receive and retain, by suction, the second circular piece(S2).

In greater detail, the first support (11) (see for example FIG. 4 ) isconformed in such a way as to centrally comprise a cylindrical housing(15) having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first circularpiece (S1), and so as to comprise a plate (17) provided with suctionholes (18), predisposed internally of the cylindrical housing (15) so asto be translatable vertically with respect to the cylindrical housing(15), between a raised position and a lowered position.

The first carousel (G1) is arranged with respect to the first feedergroup (A1) and is activatable in angular rotation about the firstvertical axis of rotation (V1) according to successive angular rotationsso that, at each angular rotation, a plate (1) at a time of the firstseries of plates (1) is positioned in a first angular position (Z1)situated at the first collecting position (C1) wherein the first feedergroup (A1) positions the first circular piece (S1) and the secondcircular piece (S2), so that the first circular piece (S1) can becollected from the first feeder group (A1) and positioned on the firstsupport (11), with the plate (17) in a raised position at the upper endof the cylindrical housing (15), which retain the first circular piece(S1) by suction, and the second circular piece (S2) can be collectedfrom the first feeder group (A1) and positioned on the second support(13) which retains it by suction (for example figures from 4A to 4Eillustrate a possible preferred but not exclusive embodiment of transferof the first and second piece, which, as it is not exclusive, will bedescribed in more detail in the following part of the presentdescription).

The first carousel (G1) is activatable in angular rotation about thefirst vertical axis of rotation (V1) in successive angular rotations soas to position, at each angular rotation, the plate (1) of the firstcarousel (G1) with the first circular piece (S1) and the second circularpiece (S2) paused in successive angular positions at relative workstations which are configured in such a way that the followingoperations are carried out in succession at them:

an internal circular portion of the first circular piece (S1) is pushedinto the cylindrical housing (15), together with the lowering of theplate (17), so as to fold an external circular portion with respect tothe internal circular portion and form a hollow body (C) having acircular base (CB), defined by the internal circular portion, and alateral wall (CL) defined by the external circular portion folded withrespect to the internal circular portion (for example figures from 5A to50 illustrate a possible preferred but not exclusive folding mode of thefirst circular piece for forming the hollow body which, as it is notexclusive, will be described in more detail in the following part of thepresent description);

a product (P) for preparation of a beverage is inserted and dosed in thehollow body (C) so as to fill a part of the volume of the hollow body insuch a way that an upper portion (S) of the lateral wall (CL) of thehollow body (C) is free and not occupied by the product (P) (see forexample figures from 6A to 6D); the upper portion (S) of the lateralwall (CL) of the hollow body (C) is bent by means of pleating withrespect to the lateral wall (CL) of the hollow body (C) to form apleated crown (PS) above the product (P) contained in the hollow body(C) and the second circular piece (S2) is collected from the secondsupport (13) and positioned above the pleated crown (PS), carrying out awelding, to form a closing cover (CC) and close the hollow body (C) insuch a way as to obtain a pod (D) containing the product (P) forpreparation of a beverage (for example figures from 8A to 8H illustratea possible preferred but not exclusive embodiment of carrying out thefolding by pleating of the upper portion (S) of the lateral wall (CL) ofthe hollow body (C) so as to form a pleated crown above the product,which, as it is not exclusive, will be described in more detail in thefollowing part of the present description once the salient and essentialaspects of the invention have been revealed).

In turn, the second feeder group (A2) is configured for unwinding asecond film (M2) of biodegradable material, in particular, as mentioned,a second film made of Ecoralene, from a second reel (B2) ofbiodegradable material and for cutting the second film (M2) so as toobtain a second sheet (F2) and comprises second cutting means (T2)configured and activatable to cut the second sheet (F2) so as to obtainat least a third circular piece (S3) and at least a fourth circularpiece (S4), wherein the at least third circular piece (S3) and the atleast fourth circular piece (S4) have a diameter that is substantiallyidentical to one another and which is of greater dimensions than thediameter of the pod (D) obtained on the plate (1) of the first series ofplates (1) of the first carousel (G1).

The second feeder group (A2) is configured in such a way as to positionthe third circular piece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4) cut inthe second sheet (F2) at a second collecting position (C2) (for examplefigures from 3A to 3H illustrate a possible preferred but not exclusiveembodiment of the second feeder group (A2) which, as it is notexclusive, will be described in more detail in the following part of thepresent description, once all the essential aspects of the inventionhave been revealed).

The second rotary carousel (G2) is arranged flanked to the firstcarousel (G1) and is configured in such a way as to be activatable inrotation about a second vertical axis of rotation (V2), and comprises asecond series of plates (2) angularly arranged with respect to oneanother about the second vertical axis of rotation (V2), wherein eachplate (2) of the second series of plates (2) of the second carousel (G2)comprises a first half-shell (21), provided with suction holes (22), anda second half-shell (23), provided with suction holes (24), hinged toone another and configured in such a way as to be activatable between asplayed position (D1), in which they are splayed with respect to oneanother, and a superposed position (D2), wherein they are superposed onone another and closed to one another.

The first half-shell (21) and the second half-shell (23) (visible forexample in greater detail in FIGS. 10A in which they are in the splayedposition (F1) thereof) have dimensions such as to be able to receiveinternally thereof respectively the third circular piece (S3) and thefourth circular piece (S4), and to retain them by suction.

Further, the second carousel (G2) is arranged with respect to the secondfeeder group (A2) and is activatable in angular rotation about thesecond vertical axis of rotation (V2) according to successive angularrotations so that, at each angular rotation, a plate (2) at a time ofthe second series of plates (2), with the first half-shell (21) and thesecond half-shell (23) in the splayed position (D1), is positioned in afirst angular position (U1) situated at the second collecting position(C2) wherein the second feeder group (A2) positions the third circularpiece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4), so that the thirdcircular piece (S3) can be collected from the second feeder group (A2)and then pushed and positioned in the first half-shell (21) to form afirst valve-shaped element (25), which is retained by suction in thefirst half-shell (21), and the fourth circular piece (S4) can becollected from the second feeder group (A2) and then pushed andpositioned in the second half-shell (23) to form a second valve-shapedelement (26), which is retained by suction in the second half-shell (23)(for example figures from 10B to 10E illustrate a possible preferred butnot exclusive embodiment of transfer of the third and fourth piece,which, as it is not exclusive, will be described in more detail in thefollowing part of the present description).

The second carousel (G2) is also thus activatable in rotation about thesecond vertical axis of rotation (V2) with an angular rotation such asto position the plate (2), with the first valve-shaped element (25)retained by suction in the first half-shell (21) and the secondvalve-shaped element (26) retained by suction in the second half-shell(23), in a successive angular position at a work station in which thefirst valve-shaped element (25) is heat-formed internally of the firsthalf-shell (21), into a shape such that it comprises an annularperipheral portion (27) and a first seat (28) such as to be able toaccommodate a lower part of the pod (D) formed on the plate (1) of thefirst carousel (G1), and the second valve-shaped element (26) isheat-formed internally of the second half-shell (23), into a shape suchthat it comprises an annular peripheral portion (29) and a second seat(30) such as to be able to accommodate the upper part of the pod (D)formed on the plate (1) of the first carousel (G1) (see for exampleFIGS. 11A and 11B).

The apparatus (100) is configured in such a way that, the first carousel(G1), with the relative plate (1) of the first series of plates (1)which bears the pod (D), and the second carousel (G2), with the relativeplate (2) of the second series of plates (2) bearing the two heat-formedvalve-shaped elements (25, 26) retained by suction by the twohalf-shells (21, 23), being activatable in rotation according torelative angular rotations so as to position the plate (1), with the pod(D), and the plate (2), with the two valve-shaped elements (25, 26), inrespective successive angular positions opposite one another (see forexample FIG. 12A). In this way, the pod (D) can be collected andpositioned from the first plate (1) in the first seat (28) of the firstvalve-shaped element (25) retained by aspiration by the first half-shell(21) of the second plate (2), with a lower part of the pod (D) in thefirst seat (28), and the second half-shell (23) can thus be activatedinto the superposed position (D2), so as to superpose on the firsthalf-shell (21), and position the second valve-shaped element (26),retained thereby by suction, above the first valve-shaped element (25)and with an upper part of the pod (D) being accommodated in the secondseat (30) of the second valve-shaped element (26), and so that theannular peripheral portion (29) of the second valve-shaped element (26)superposes on the annular peripheral portion (27) of the firstvalve-shaped element (25) (for example figures from 12B to 12Dillustrate a possible preferred but not exclusive embodiment of transferof the pod (D) which, as it is not exclusive, will be described in moredetail in the following part of the present description).

Further the second carousel (G2) is thus consequently activatable inangular rotation about the second vertical axis of rotation (V2)according to successive angular rotations so as to position, at eachangular rotation, the plate (2) of the second series of plates (2) withthe two half-shells (21, 23) in the superposed position (D2), and thetwo valve-shaped elements (25, 26), superposed on one another andinternally containing the pod (D), in successive angular positions atrelative work stations which are configured in such a way that at which,in succession, the following operations are carried out:

the second half-shell (23), once the suction action has been deactivatedso as to release the second valve-shaped element (26), is returned intothe splayed position (D1) from the first half-shell (21), and the firstvalve-shaped element (25) and the second valve-shaped element (26) areheat-welded at the relative annular peripheral portions (27, 29)superposed on one another in such a way as to seal the pod (D)internally thereof and obtain a sealed biodegradable packaging (F) of aproduct (P) for preparation of a beverage (see for example FIGS. 15A and15B);

the sealed biodegradable packaging (F) containing a product (P) forpreparation of a beverage is collected from the plate (2) of the secondseries of plates (2) of the second carousel (G2) and transferred onto aconveyor means (31) (see for example figures from 16A to 16E).

Owing to this special combination of characteristics, the apparatus(100) of the invention has a first carousel and relative work stationsspecially predisposed to realise a pod containing a product forpreparation of a beverage from a first sheet cut from a first film ofbiodegradable material, such as polylactic acid, which is unwound by asingle first reel, in particular from a first circular piece a secondcircular piece cut in the first sheet.

At the same time, with the second carousel and with the relativeassociated work stations mentioned in the foregoing, the apparatusutilises a second sheet of biodegradable material, such as Ecoralene,which is cut from a second film unwound from a second reel, so as toobtain a third circular piece and a fourth circular piece which are usedto create the cladding of the pod.

In this way, the third circular piece and the fourth circular piecealready have the suitable dimensions to be used as cladding for wrappingthe pod, and can be subjected, independently of one another, to theoperations of heat-forming so as to obtain the two valve-shaped elementshaving a suitable shape to receive, in the relative seats, correspondingportions of the pod.

The fact of having to heat-form the third circular piece and the fourthcircular piece in the two valve-shaped elements, previously to thecoupling thereof with the pod, enables carrying out the heat-forming inan effective and precise way and giving the two valve-shaped elementsrelative suitable shapes which, once coupled, will define the finalcladding of the pod, and thus the shape of the final package.

Further, when the two valve-shaped elements are superposed on oneanother to close the pod internally thereof, owing to the special shapethey are given during the independent heat-forming, they will have onlythe relative annular portions that superpose on one another, andtherefore a very precise and defined area, at which the operations ofheat-welding and sealing can be carried out, with no repercussion on thepod contained internally thereof, in the two seats of the twovalve-shaped elements, nor on the shape of the two valve-shapedelements.

Therefore, with the apparatus (100) of the present invention it ispossible to obtain a final package that is entirely made of abiodegradable material, both for the material of the pod and thematerial of the cladding, and will have a well-defined shape as regardsthe relative edge, which will be perfectly circular (circular edges ofthe third and fourth circular piece, superposed on one another) with twocontaining caps of the pod formed by the two seats of the twovalve-shaped elements.

In a first preferred aspect, the apparatus (100) can be configured tocomprise the combination of the work stations described in thefollowing:

a first collecting work station (P1), for gripping the first circularpiece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2);

a second folding and heat-forming work station (P2) for folding andheat-forming of the first circular piece (S1) in a hollow body (C)having a base wall (CB) and a lateral wall (CL);

a third dosing work station (P3), for dosing a product (P) forpreparation of a beverage in the hollow body (C);

a fourth folding and closing work station (P4) for folding an upperportion (S) of the lateral wall (CL) of the hollow body (C) above theproduct (P) and the application of the second circular piece (S2) toclose the hollow body (C) and form the pod (D) containing the product(P) for preparation of a beverage;

a fifth collecting work station (P5), for gripping the third circularpiece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4);

a sixth heat-forming work station (P6), for heat-forming the thirdcircular piece (S3) in a first valve-shaped element (25) and theheat-forming of the fourth circular piece (S4) in a second valve-shapedelement (26);

a seventh collecting and transferring work station (P7), wherein the pod(D) is collected and positioned in the first valve-shaped element (25)and the second valve-shaped element (26) is positioned above the firstvalve-shaped element (26) for closing the pod (D) there-between;

an eighth heat-welding and sealing station (P8), for the heat-weldingand reciprocal sealing of the valve-shaped elements (25, 26) in order toobtain a biodegradable packaging (F) of a product for preparation of abeverage; a ninth outfeed work station (P9), for gripping thebiodegradable packaging (F) and for transfer thereof onto a conveyormeans (31).

In detail, the various work stations described in the foregoing arearranged and configured in the following way.

The first collecting work station (P1) is situated at the firstcollecting position (C1) wherein the first feeder group (A1) positionsthe first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2) and atthe first angular position (Z1) wherein the plate (1) of the firstseries of plates (1) is positioned by the first carousel (G1), so as tocollect the first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece(S2).

The first collecting work station (P1) comprises collecting means (3)(described in greater detail in the following part of the description)which are configured and activatable to collect the first circular piece(S1) and the second circular piece (S2) from the first feeder group (A1)and to position the first circular piece (S1) on the first support (11)of the plate (1), so that the first circular piece (S1) is centred withrespect to the cylindrical housing (15) so that an internal circularportion of the first piece (S1) is at the cylindrical housing (15) andresting on the plate (17), the plate being positioned in a raisedposition with respect to the cylindrical housing (15) at the upper endof the cylindrical housing (15), and an external circular portion of thefirst circular piece (S1) is external of the cylindrical housing (15),and in such a way that the first support (11) and the plate (17) canretain the first circular piece (S1) by suction, and in order toposition the second circular piece (S2) on the second support (13) ofthe plate (1), so that the second support (13) can retain the secondcircular piece (S2) by suction (see for example figures from 4A to 4E).

The second folding and heat-forming work station (P2)is situated at asecond angular position (Z2) wherein the plate (1) of the first carousel(G1), with the first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece(S2) being retained by suction by the first support (11) and the secondsupport (13), is positioned following an angular rotation of the firstcarousel (G1) (FIG. 5G).

The second folding and heat-forming work station (P2) comprises firstfolding and heat-welding means (4) (described in detail in thefollowing) which are configured and activatable in synchrony with thelowering of the plate (17) with respect to the cylindrical housing (15)of the first support (11) towards a relative lowered position, so as topush the internal circular portion of the first circular piece (S1) intothe cylindrical housing (15) so as to fold an external circular portionwith respect to the internal circular portion and form a hollow body (C)having a circular base (CB), defined by the internal circular portion,and a lateral wall (CL) defined by the external circular portion foldedwith respect to the internal circular portion (see figures from 5B to50).

The third dosing work station (P3) is situated at a third angularposition (Z3) wherein the plate (1) of the first carousel (G1), with thehollow body (C) in the cylindrical housing (15) of the first support(11) filled with the product (P) for preparation of a beverage and thesecond circular piece (S2) retained by suction by the second support(13), is positioned following an angular rotation of the first carousel(G1) (FIG. 6A).

The third dosing work station (P3) comprises dosing means (5) which areconfigured for dosing a product (P) for preparation of a beverage in thehollow body (C) so as to fill a part of the volume of the hollow body(C) in such a way that an upper portion (S) of the lateral wall (CL) ofthe hollow body (C) is free and not occupied by the product (P).

For example, in particular, in this third dosing work station (P3), thedosing means (5) can be in a fixed position, while the plate (17) can bemovable upwards, with respect to the cylindrical housing (15) of thefirst support (11) in which the hollow body (C) is positioned, to raisean upper part of the hollow body (C) beyond the cylindrical housing (15)and to position it at the dosing means (5), to facilitate the fillingand dosing operations of the hollow body with a relative product forpreparation of a beverage (see FIGS. 6B, and 6D).

The dosing means (5) can be configured in such a way as to be able toreceive and dose various types of products for preparation of beverages,such as products in powder, granular, lyophilised or ground products, orin the form of chopped herbs.

For example, the dosing means (5) can be coupled to infeeding anddispensing products (not illustrated) for preparation of a beverage byinfusion configured so as to be able to mix different types of herbswith one another, also following personal requests by each single userdesiring a particular combination or mix of herbs for preparing arelative herbal tea or infusion.

The fourth folding and closing work station (P4) is situated at a fourthangular position (Z4) wherein the plate (1) of the first carousel (G1),with the hollow body (C) in the cylindrical housing (15) of the firstsupport (11) filled with the product (P) for preparation of a beverageand the second circular piece (S2) retained by suction by the secondsupport (13), is positioned following an angular rotation of the firstcarousel (G1).

The fourth folding and closing work station (P4) comprises secondfolding means (6) which are configured and activatable so as to be ableto fold the upper portion (S) of the lateral wall (CL) of the hollowbody (C) with respect to the lateral wall (CL) by means of pleating, toform a pleated crown (PS) above the product (P) contained in the hollowbody (C) (see for example FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8D, 8G).

The fourth folding and closing work station (P4) further comprisesgripping and welding means (7) which are configured to grip the secondcircular piece (S2) from the second support (13) and to position thesecond circular piece (S2) above the pleated crown (PS), carrying out awelding to form a closing cover (CC) and close the hollow body (C) insuch a way as to obtain a pod (D) containing the product (P) for product(P) for preparation of a beverage (see for example FIGS. 8C, 8E, 8F and8H).

A preferred embodiment of the second folding means (6) will be describedin greater detail in the following part of the description.

The fifth collecting work station (P5) is situated at the secondcollecting position (C2), wherein the second feeder group (A2) positionsthe third circular piece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4) and atthe first angular position (U1) wherein the plate (2) of the secondseries of plates (2) is positioned by the second carousel (G2), with thefirst half-shell (21) and the second half-shell (23) in the relativesplayed position (D1).

The fifth collecting work station (P5), comprises second collectingmeans (8) io configured and activatable to collect the third circularpiece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4) from the second feedergroup (A2) and to position the third circular piece (S3) in the firsthalf-shell (21), pushing the third circular piece (S3) into the firsthalf-shell (21) so that the third circular piece (S3) adheres to thewalls of the first half-shell (21) and is retained by suction by thefirst half-shell (21), forming a first valve-shaped element (25), and toposition the fourth circular piece (S4) in the second half-shell (23),pushing the fourth circular piece (S4) into the second half-shell (23)so that the fourth circular piece (S4) adheres to the walls of thesecond half-shell (23) and is retained by suction by the secondhalf-shell (23), forming a second valve-shaped element (26) (see forexample figures from 10B to 10E).

The sixth heat-forming work station (P6) is situated at a second angularposition (U2) wherein the plate (2) of the second carousel (G2), withthe first valve-shaped element (25) retained by suction in the firsthalf-shell (21) and with the second valve-shaped element (26), retainedby suction in the second half-shell (23), is positioned following anangular rotation of the second carousel (G2) (FIG. 11A).

The sixth heat-forming work station (P6) comprises heat-forming means(9) (for example heated punches) which are configured and activatable toinsert in the first half-shell (21) and the second half-shell (23) andgo into contact with the first valve-shaped element (25) and the secondvalve-shaped element (26) (FIG. 11B).

The heat-forming means (9) are conformed so as to heat-form the firstvalve-shaped element (25) so that the first valve-shaped element (25)comprises an annular peripheral portion (27) and a first seat (28) suchas to be able to accommodate a lower part of the pod (D) formed in thefourth folding and closing io work station (P4) on the plate (1) of thefirst carousel (G1), and so as to heat-form the second valve-shapedelement (26) so that the second valve-shaped element (26) comprises anannular peripheral portion (29) and a second seat (30) such as to beable to accommodate the upper part of the pod (D) formed in the fourthfolding and closing work station (P4) on the plate (1) of the firstcarousel (G1). Advantageously, with the apparatus (100) of theinvention, the third circular piece

(S3) made of Ecoralene and the fourth circular piece (S4) made ofEcoralene, in the fifth work station (P5), are both positioned by meansof the second collecting means (8), with the high-barrier outer filmresting on the two half-shells (21, 23). In this way, the heat-formingoperation, by means of the heat-forming means (9), zo in the sixth workstation (P6), takes place, for both, at the inner film, so that thethird piece and the fourth piece can be subjected to the same stressesand can undergo a same corresponding deformation, which leads to theformation of the two valve-shaped elements having a same shape.

The seventh collecting and transferring work station (P7) of the pod(D), is situated at a fifth angular position (Z5) in which the plate (1)of the first carousel (G1), with the pod (D) containing the product (P)for preparation of a beverage formed in the fourth folding and closingwork station (P4), is positioned following an angular rotation of thefirst carousel (G1) and at a third angular position (U3) in which theplate (2) of the second carousel (G2), with the first valve-shapedelement (25) heat-formed and retained by suction in the first half-shell(21) and the second valve-shaped element (26), heat-formed and retainedby suction in the second half-shell (23), is positioned following anangular rotation of the second carousel (G2) so that it is opposite theplate (1) of the first carousel (G1) (FIG. 12A).

The seventh collecting and transferring work station (P7) comprisescollecting and transfer means (10) that are configured and activatableto collect the pod (D) and transfer and position the pod (D) in thefirst seat (28) of the first valve-shaped element (25) so that a lowerpart of the pod (D) is accommodated in the first seat (28) (figures from12B to 12D).

For example, the collecting and transfer means (10) can comprise asuction gripping element (101) conformed in such a way as to have a seatprofiled complementarily to an upper portion of the pod and providedwith holes (102) that are activatable in suction, to grip the pod (D) byaspiration. To facilitate the grip of the pod (D), the plate (17)present in the cylindrical housing (15) of the first support (11) can beraised into a raised position with respect to the zo cylindrical housing(15) so as to raise the pod beyond the first support (11) (FIG. 12B).

Guide means (103) are present to guide the movement of the grippingelement (101) above the first half-shell (21) of the plate (2)positioned at the second carousel (G2) in the relative third angularposition (U3).

The second half-shell (23) is thus subsequently activated into thesuperposed position (D2), so as to superpose on the first half-shell(21), and position the second valve-shaped element (26), retainedthereby by suction, above the first valve-shaped element (25) and withan upper part of the pod (D) being accommodated in the second seat (30)of the second valve-shaped element (26), and so that the annularperipheral portion (29) of the second valve-shaped element (26)superposes on the annular peripheral portion (27) of the firstvalve-shaped element (25).

The eighth heat-welding and sealing station (P8) is situated at a fourthangular position (U4) in which the plate (2) of the second carousel(G2), with the two valve-shaped elements (25, 26), superposed on oneanother and internally containing the pod (D), is positioned following afurther angular rotation of the second carousel (G2) (FIG. 15A).

The eighth heat-welding and sealing station (P8) comprises heat-formingand sealing means (19) which are configured and activatable, once thesecond half-shell (23) is returned into the splayed position (D1) withrespect to the first half-shell (21), to heat-weld the firstvalve-shaped element (25) and the second valve-shaped element (26) atthe relative annular peripheral portions (27, 29) superposed on oneanother in such a way as to seal the pod (D) internally thereof andobtain a sealed biodegradable packaging (F) of a product for preparationof a beverage (FIG. 15B).

Lastly, the ninth outfeed work station (P9) is situated at a fifthangular position (U5) wherein the plate (2) of the second carousel (G2),with the biodegradable packaging (F) sealed, obtained in the eighthheat-welding and sealing work station (P8), is positioned following afurther angular rotation of the second carousel (G2) (FIG. 16A).

The ninth outfeed work station (P9) comprises second collecting andtransfer means (32), which are configured and activatable to collect thebiodegradable packaging (F) and transfer and position the biodegradablepackaging (F) on the conveyor means (31) (see figures from 16B to 16E).

The apparatus (100) of the invention can be predisposed and configuredin such a way as to also comprise other preferred work stations destinedto carry out further particular machining during the steps of realisingboth the pod and the cladding thereof.

In a preferred aspect, the apparatus (100) can be configured in such away as to comprise a compression work station (P10), which is associatedto the first carousel (G1) between the third dosing work station (P3)and the fourth folding and closing work station (P4), at a firstintermediate angular position (Z6) (position visible in FIG. 1 ),between the third angular position (Z3) and the fourth angular position(Z4), wherein the plate (1) of the first carousel (G1), with the hollowbody (C) filled with the product (P) for preparation of a beverage,supported by the plate (17) formed in the cylindrical housing (15) ofthe first support (11) and the second circular piece (S2) retained bysuction by the second support (13), is positioned following an angularrotation of the first carousel (G1).

The compression work station (P10) comprises compression means (33) (forexample a vertically-movable pusher element) which are configured andactivatable to be lowered towards the plate (1) and insert in the hollowbody (C) and push downwards, rotating about a vertical axis of rotation,the product (P) for preparation of a beverage contained in the hollowbody (C) so as to compress it, reducing the volume thereof (see FIGS.7A, 7B).

In a further preferred aspect, the apparatus (100) can be configured insuch a way as to comprise a compacting and sealing work station (P11),associated to the first carousel (G1) between the fourth folding andclosing work station (P4) and the seventh collecting and transferringwork station (P7), at a second intermediate angular position (Z7)(visible in FIG. 1 ), between the fourth angular position (Z4) and thefifth angular position (Z5), wherein the plate (1) of the first carousel(G1), with the pod (D) containing the product for preparation of abeverage supported by the plate (17) of the first support (11), ispositioned following an angular rotation of the first carousel (G1).

The compacting and sealing work station (P11) comprises compacting andsealing means (34) which are configured and activatable to be loweredtowards the plate (1), in synchrony with the raising of the plate (17)into the raised position to raise the pod (D) beyond the cylindricalhousing (15) of the first support (11), so as to be able to abut the pod(D) and compact the pod (D), reducing the overall volume there, and sealit completely.

In a first embodiment, the compacting and sealing means (34) comprise asonotrode (340) which is configured in such a way as to be verticallyactivatable and be lowered towards the plate (1) and abut the pod (D),raised by the plate (17) beyond the cylindrical housing (15) of thefirst support (11), in order to compact the pod (D), completely sealingit (see FIGS. 9A, and 9B).

On the basis of another possible embodiment, the compacting and sealingmeans (34) comprise a vertically-movable pusher element (341), providedwith a welding cartridge (342) (see FIGS. 9C, and 9D).

In a further preferred aspect, the apparatus (100) can comprise a firstcleaning station (P12), associated to the first carousel (G1), betweenthe seventh collecting and transferring work station (P7) of the pod (D)and the first collecting work station (P1), at a third intermediateangular position (Z8) (visible in FIG. 1 ), between the fifth angularposition (Z5) and the first angular position (Z1), wherein the plate (1)of the first carousel (G1) is positioned after the pod (D) has beentransferred onto the plate (2) of the second carousel (G2), and so thatany eventual working waste can be removed and the first support (11),with the relative suction holes (12), the plate (17), with the relativesuction holes (18) and the second support (13), with the relativesuction holes (14), can be subjected to cleaning operations (FIG. 17 ).

In a further particularly preferred aspect, the apparatus (100) can beconfigured in such a way as to comprise a first pre-welding station(P13), associated to the second carousel (G2), between the seventhcollecting and transferring work station (P7) and the eighthheat-welding and sealing work station (P8), at a first intermediateangular position (U6), (visible in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 13A) between thethird angular position (U3) and the fourth angular position (U4),wherein the plate (2) of the second carousel (G2), with the twohalf-shells (21, 23) in the superposed position (D2) thereof with thetwo valve-shaped elements (25, 26), superposed on one another andinternally containing the pod (D), is positioned following an angularrotation of the second carousel (G2).

The first pre-welding station (P13) comprises spot welding means (35)which are conformed in such a way as to comprise a movable element (350)(FIG. 13C), vertically-movable, which is provided with heated contactrods (351). The movable element (350) is configured and activatable tobe vertically lowered towards the second half-shell (23), closed abovethe first half-shell (21), so that the heated contact rods (351) passthrough through-holes (230) realised in the second half-shell (23) (FIG.13D) so that the heated contact rods (351) reach into contact with thesuperposed annular portions (27, 29) of the valve-shaped elements (25,26), in order to carry out the reciprocal welding in the contact pointswith the heated contact rods (351) (FIG. 13B).

This is particularly advantageous, as the second half-shell (23), oncethe suction action has been deactivated, can be safely returned into thesplayed position (D1) from the first half-shell, with the certainty thatthe second valve-shaped element (26) will be correctly positioned abovethe first valve-shaped element (25) (still retained by suction by thefirst half-shell (21)) due to the presence of the weld spots between therelative annular superposed portions.

On the basis of a further particularly preferred aspect, for the purposeof obtaining a final package that is perfectly closed and sealed, theapparatus (100) can be configured in such a way as to comprise a secondpre-welding station (P14), associated to the second carousel (G2),between the first pre-welding station work station (P13) and the eighthheat-welding and sealing work station (P8), at a second intermediateangular position (U7) (visible in FIG. 1 ), between the firstintermediate angular position (U6) and the fourth angular position (U4),wherein the plate (2) of the second carousel (G2), with the twohalf-shells (21, 23) in the superposed position (D2) thereof and the twovalve-shaped elements (25, 26), superposed on one another and internallycontaining the pod (D) and pre-welded to one another with weld spots atthe relative annular portions (27, 29), is positioned following anangular rotation of the second carousel (G2). The second pre-weldingstation (P14) comprises a ring heat welding element (36) which isconfigured and activatable in order to be vertically translatable andlowerable towards the plate (2), once the second half-shell (23), withthe suction action deactivated to release the second valve-shapedelement (26), is moved into the splayed position (D1) with respect tothe first half-shell (21), in order to abut the superposed annularportions (27, 29) of the two valve-shaped elements (25, 26) and carryout a ring welding thereof (figures from 14E to 14H).

In a preferred embodiment, the ring welding using the ring heat weldingelement (36) can be carried out in a controlled-atmosphere environment(G) (see for example figures from 14A to 14D).

In this case, the ring welding is carried out following the partialraising of the second half-shell (23) from the first half-shell (21) soas to expose the mutually-superposed two valve-shaped elements (25, 26),and pre-welded to one another with weld spots at the relative annularportions (27, 29), and internally containing the pod (D), to thecontrolled-atmosphere environment, and subsequently to an aspiration ofoxygen from the controlled-atmosphere environment (G), in order toremove the residual oxygen inside the two valve-shaped elements (25,26), and to an injection of inert gas (for example nitrogen) into thecontrolled-atmosphere environment (G), so that the inert gas insertsbetween the two valve-shaped elements (25, 26).

In this case, for these operations, the second pre-welding station (P14)comprises a bell element (37) configured and activatable in verticaltranslation so as to be lowered and positioned on the plate (2) of thesecond carousel (G2) so as to create a controlled-atmosphere environment(G) which contains the two half-shells (21, 23) closed in the superposedposition (D2) thereof, and containing the two valve-shaped elements (25,26), superposed on one another, pre-welded to one another with weldspots in the relative annular portions (27, 29), and internallycontaining the pod (D) (FIG. 14A).

In particular, the bell element (37) is provided with a first conduit(370), connected to an oxygen aspiration source, and communicating withthe inside of the bell element (37), and a second conduit (371),connected to an inert gas injection source and communicating with theinside of the bell element (37), the ring heat welding element (36)being mounted on the bell element (37) vertically movable with respectto the bell element (37) so as to be lowered towards the plate (2),against the recall action of elastic means (360).

In this way, the second half-shell (23) can be partly raised withrespect to the first half-shell (21), exposing the two valve-shapedelements in the parts of the relative annular superposed portionsbetween the reciprocal weld spots, to the controlled-atmosphereenvironment in the bell element, thus enabling aspiration of oxygeninternally thereof and injection of inert gas (FIG. 14C).

In a further preferred aspect, the apparatus (100) can be configured insuch a way as to comprise detecting means (38) (for example opticaldetecting means or photocells), which are predisposed so as to detectthe height and integrity of the biodegradable packaging (F) borne by theplate (2) of the second series of plates (2) of the second carousel (G2)during the passage of the plate (2) between the eighth heat-welding andsealing work station (P8) and the ninth outfeed work station (P9) (seefor example FIG. 15C). In this way, the apparatus (100) will haveavailable information on the presence of zo any packages (F*) that aredefective or have a different height with respect to a predeterminedheight, so as to keep the second collecting and transfer means (32)inactive in the ninth outfeed work station (P), so that the defectivepackages (F*) remain on the second plate (2).

In those cases, the apparatus (100) will also comprise a second cleaningstation (P15), which is associated to the second carousel (G2), betweenthe ninth outfeed work station (P9) and the fifth collecting workstation (P5), at a third intermediate angular position (U8) (visible inFIG. 1 ), between the fifth angular position (U5) and the first angularposition (U1), wherein the plate (2) of the second carousel (G2) ispositioned following an angular rotation of the second carousel (2).

In this second cleaning station (P15) (FIG. 18 ) the possibly defectivepackages (F*) which have remained on the second plate (2) can be removed(for example by means of the use of suitable suction gripping means, notillustrated) and the first half-shell (21), with the relative suctionholes (22), and the second half-shell (23), with the relative suctionholes (24), can be subjected to cleaning operations. The following is adescription of the constructional peculiarities of some significantcomponents in some of the work stations described in general terms inthe foregoing.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures from 4A to4E, the collecting means (3) of the first collecting work station (P1)comprise a suction plate (300) mounted by means of relative rods (302)on a support frame (301) that is rotatable about a horizontal axis ofrotation. The rods (302) are mounted translatably with respect to theframe (301) in order to enable the suction plate (300) to be translateddistancingly or nearingly from or to the frame (301).

In this way, the suction plate (300) can be positioned in a verticalconfiguration (FIGS. 4A, and 4B) so as to be able to grip by suction thefirst circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2) cut in thefirst sheet (F1), made of polylactic acid and arranged vertically in thefirst collecting position (P1) by the first feeder group (A1).

The suction plate (300), once the first circular piece and the secondcircular piece have been collected, following the rotation of the frame(301) about the horizontal axis of rotation, can thus be positioned in ahorizontal configuration (FIGS. 4D, and 4E), and then, by means of thetranslation of the rods (302) with respect to the frame (301), can belowered towards the first support (11) and the second support (13) ofthe first plate (1), positioned by the first carousel (G1) in the firstangular position (Z1), in order to release thereon the first and thesecond circular piece.

In particular, a significant aspect of the apparatus (100) of theinvention is constituted by the special conformation of the firstsupport (11) of the first plate (1) of the first carousel (G1), used forfolding the first circular piece made of polylactic acid and theformation of the hollow body of the pod.

The first support (11) is conformed (such as for example visible inFIGS. 4, 4A, 5A, 5D) so as to comprise radial seats (16) arrangedradially with respect to the cylindrical housing (15) and is mounted onthe plate (1) in such a way as to be activatable in rotation about avertical axis of rotation that is axial to the cylindrical housing (15).

This special shape of the first support (11) is strictly correlated tothe particular shape and structure of the first folding and heat-weldingmeans (4) of the second folding and heat-forming work station (P2),which enable realising a particular folding of the first circular piece(S1) and obtaining a hollow body (C) with a reinforced lateral wall.

The first folding and heat-welding means (4) (see in detail, forexample, figures from 5A to 5E) are configured and structured in such away as to comprise: a first pusher element (41) and a second pusherelement (42) which cooperate with one another for the folding of thefirst circular piece (S1).

The first pusher element (41), heatable by means of a resistance, has acylindrical shape and is activatable in vertical translation to belowered towards the plate (1) in order to abut the internal circularportion of the first circular piece (S1) and push it into thecylindrical housing (15) of the first support (11), so that the externalcircular portion of the first circular piece on (S1), external withrespect to the cylindrical housing (15) and to the internal circularportion, is folded with respect to the internal circular portion formingthe hollow body (C) with the base wall (CB) and the lateral wall (CL).

The second pusher element (42) is conformed and configured in such a wayas to comprise a series of radial paddles (43), activatable in verticaltranslation, so as to be lowered in synchrony with the first pusherelement (41) towards the plate (1), so that the series of radial paddles(43) abut radial portions of the external circular portion of the firstcircular piece (S1) and push the radial portions into the radial seats(16) of the cylindrical housing (15).

In this way, during the folding of the first circular piece (S1) in thecylindrical housing (15), radial tabs (161) are formed, in the radialseats (16) of the cylindrical housing (15), which project externally ofthe lateral wall (CL) of the hollow body (C) (see for example FIG. 5Fwhich illustrates an initial step of the folding of the first circularpiece (S1) (and FIG. 5I which illustrates the shape obtained for thehollow body (C) at the end of the folding step of the first circularpiece (S1)).

The second pusher element (42) is thus activatable in raising verticaltranslation with respect to the radial seats (16) of the cylindricalhousing (15) (see FIG. 5M) so as to disengage from the cylindricalhousing (15) so that the first support (11), with the first pusherelement (41) maintained in the cylindrical housing (15) in contact withthe hollow body (C) and heated by the resistance, can be activated inrotation about the vertical axis of rotation that is axial with respectto the cylindrical housing (15) so as to fold the radial tabs (161)projecting externally from the lateral wall (CL) of the hollow body (C)and to heat-form the hollow body (see for example FIG. 5N in which therotation of the first support (1) is illustrated, with the first pusherelement omitted for greater clarity of view). Lastly, the first pusherelement (41) is activatable in vertical translation in order to bedistanced from the cylindrical housing (15) and in order to disengagefrom the hollow body (C).

FIG. 5O illustrates the final shape obtained for the hollow body at thesecond folding and heat-forming work station (P2).

A further special and advantageous aspect of the apparatus (100) of theinvention relates to the special conformation and structure of thesecond folding means (6) in the fourth folding and closing work station(P4) of the pod (D).

The second folding means (6) are in fact configured and structured insuch a way as to comprise a series of blades (61) hinged to one anotherand reciprocally arranged in such a way as to form between them acentral opening (62) (see for example FIG. 8A), having a greaterdiameter than the diameter of the hollow body (C) obtained in the secondfolding and heat-forming work station (P2); the blades (61) areactivatable in reciprocal rotation with respect to one another in orderto be able to narrow the central opening (62).

In this way, when the plate (1) is positioned by the first carousel (G1)in the fourth angular position (Z4) at the fourth folding and closingwork station (P4) with the hollow body (C) formed in the cylindricalhousing (15) of the first support (11) and containing the product (P)for preparation of a beverage, the plate (17) is activatable in verticaltranslation in order to be raised with respect to the cylindricalhousing (15) and to raise and position the hollow body (C) so that theupper portion (S) of the lateral wall (CL) of the hollow body (C) notoccupied and free of the product (P) inserts in the central opening (62)present between the blades (61) (see FIG. 8B).

The blades (61) are then activatable in rotation with respect to oneanother, about the relative hinge points, so as to narrow the centralopening (62) (FIG. 8D) in order to abut the upper portion (S) and foldthe upper portion (S) with respect to the lateral wall (CL) of thehollow body (C), carrying out a folding with pleating and forming apleated crown (PS) above the product (P) contained in the hollow body(C) (see in particular FIG. 8G).

Owing to the presence of the pleated crown (PS), formed as described inthe foregoing, it will be easier to position the second circular piece(S2) to close the hollow body (C), as it can position the secondcircular piece resting on the pleated crown (PS) and forming the closingcover (CC) of the hollow body (C) to form the pod (D).

Further, in this way, for the gripping and welding means (7) it will beeasier to be able to position and heat-weld the second circular piece(S2) on the pleated crown (PS).

For example, the gripping and welding means (7) can comprise a suctiongripping member (700), having a circular suction gripping surface, witha suction hole arranged centrally, and provided, peripherally, withprojecting teeth (701) that are heatable by means of a cartridge so asto carry out heat-welding spots between the second circular piece (S2)and the pleated crown (PS), once the second circular piece (S2) ispositioned on the pleated crown (PS).

The hollow body (C) containing the product (P) for preparation of abeverage is thus perfectly closed by means of a correct and centredpositioning of the closing cover (CC).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the secondcollecting means (8) in the fifth collecting work station (P5) (seefigures from 10B to 10E) comprise a second suction plate (80) on whichare mounted, translatably with respect to the second suction plate (80),a pair of pusher elements (81, 82).

The second suction plate (80) is movable from a first position, at thesecond collecting position (C2) wherein the second feeder group (A2)positions the third circular piece (S3) and the fourth circular piece(S4), wherein the second suction plate (80) collects, by suction, thethird circular piece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4) (FIG. 10B),at a second position above the first half-shell (21) and the secondhalf-shell (23) of the plate (2) positioned by the second carousel (G2)in the first angular position (U1), so as to position the third circularpiece (S3) above the first half-shell (21) and the fourth circular piece(S4) above the second half-shell (23) (FIG. 10D).

The pair of pusher elements (81, 82), following the deactivation of theaspiration of the second suction plate (80), are then translatable withrespect to the second suction plate (80), to push the third circularpiece (S3) into the first half-shell (21), so that the third circularpiece (S3) adheres to the walls of the first half-shell (21) and isretained by suction by the first half-shell (21), forming a firstvalve-shaped element (25) by extrusion, and to push the fourth circularpiece (S4) into the second half-shell (23) so that the fourth circularpiece (S4) adheres to the walls of the second half-shell (23) and isretained by suction by the second half-shell (23), forming a secondvalve-shaped element (26) by extrusion. Owing to the presence of thepair of pusher elements (81, 82), which push the third circular pieceand the fourth circular piece in the relative half-shells, it ispossible to mechanically deform the two circular pieces, giving them afirst shape, being a valve shape, which will then be stabilised byheat-forming in the following heat-welding sixth work station (P6).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the secondcollecting and transfer means (32) in the ninth outfeed work station(P9) comprise a suction gripping member (320) movable from a firstposition, wherein the suction gripping member (320) is positionableabove the plate (2), positioned by the second carousel (G2) in the fifthangular position (U5), at the first half-shell (21) which bears thebiodegradable packaging (F), so as to collect, by suction, thebiodegradable packaging (F), at a second position, wherein it is abovethe conveyor means (31), in order to release the biodegradable packaging(F) above the conveyor means (31) (see for example FIGS. 16A and 16B).In particular, the suction gripping member (320) is provided with acircular cutting member (321) (see the detail in larger scale of FIG.16C) dimensioned and configured so as to perform a circular cut on theannular peripheral portions (27, 29) of the two valve-shaped elements(25, 26) heat-welded and sealed to one another in such a way as todefine a final shape for the biodegradable packaging (F) that is exactlycircular.

The conveyor means (31), on which the packaging (F) is positioned by thesuction gripping member (320) can be realised in such a way as tocomprise a load cell (35) configured and predisposed to detect theweight of the biodegradable packaging (F) (see for example FIG. 16D),and a trapdoor (36) raisable to cause the packaging (F) to fall towardsa reject station in a case in which there is a non-conforming weightwith respect to an ideal weight (FIG. 16E). In the possible preferredembodiment of the apparatus (100) of the invention and illustrated inthe tables of drawings, the first feeder group (A1) of the first sheet(F1) made of polylactic acid, and the second feeder group (A2) of thesecond sheet (F2) made of Ecoralene can be structured and realised inthe following way. The first feeder group (A1) (see figures from 2A to2H) comprises first unwinding means (70), for unwinding a first film(M1) of biodegradable material (polylactic acid) from the first reel(B1), first positioning means (71), for positioning an advanced portionof the first film (M1) into a vertical position, and a first knife (72)to cut the advanced portion of the first film (M1) and obtain the firstsheet (F1). The first feeder group (A1) is also structured in such a wayas to comprise at least io a first suction plate (73) borne by a firstframe (74) which is activatable in rotation about a vertical axis andconfigured to position the first suction plate (73) in four angularpositions that are consecutive to one another.

In particular: in a first angular position, the first suction plate (73)is positioned at the first sheet (F1) cut from the first film (M1) sothat the first suction plate (73) can retain the first sheet (F1) bysuction, wherein, in a second angular position, the first suction plate(73) is positioned at the first cutting means (T1), activatable to cutthe first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2) fromthe first sheet (F1), wherein, in a third angular position, the firstsuction plate (73) is positioned, with the first sheet (F1) in which thefirst circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2) have beencut and retained by suction, in the first collecting position (C1) ofthe first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece (S2), andwherein, in a fourth angular position, the first suction plate (73) ispositioned at first waste recovery means (75) having the function ofremoving the waste residues of the first sheet (F1) from the first plate(73) after the first circular piece (S1) and the second circular piece(S2) have been collected from the first collecting position (C1) andpositioned on the first support (11) and on the second support (13) ofthe plate (1) of the first carousel (G1).

The first cutting means (T1) of the first feeder group (A1) comprisefirst cylindrical cutting elements (T10, T11) and wherein the firstsuction plate (73) comprises circular grooves (730, 731) having a shapecorresponding to the first cylindrical cutting elements (T10, T11) so asto be able to accommodate internally thereof an end part of the firstcylindrical cutting elements (T10, T11) and enable the first cylindricalcutting elements (T10, T11) to cut the first circular piece (S1) and thesecond circular piece (S2) in the first sheet (F1) retained by suctionby the first suction plate (73).

In turn, the second feeder group (A2) (see figures from 3A to 3H)comprises second unwinding means (90), for unwinding the second film(M2) of biodegradable material from the second reel (B2), secondpositioning means (91), for positioning an advanced portion of thesecond film (M2) in a vertical position, and a second knife (92) to cutthe advanced portion of the second film (M2) and obtain the second sheet(F2).

The second feeder group (A2) is also structured in such a way as tocomprise a second suction plate (93) borne by a second frame (94) whichis activatable in rotation about a vertical axis and configured toposition the second suction plate (93) in four angular positions,consecutive to one another.

In particular: in a first angular position, the second suction plate(93) is positioned at the second sheet (F2) cut from the second film(M2) so that the second suction plate (93) can retain the second sheet(F2) by suction, wherein, in a second angular position, the secondsuction plate (93) is positioned at the second cutting means (T2),activatable to cut the third circular piece (S3) and the fourth circularpiece (S4) from the second sheet (F2), wherein, in a third angularposition, the second suction plate (93) is positioned, with the secondsheet (F2) in which the third circular piece (S3) and the fourthcircular piece (S4) have been cut and retained by suction, in the secondcollecting position (C2) of the third circular piece (S3) and the fourthcircular piece (S4), and wherein, in a fourth angular position, thesecond suction plate (93) is at second waste recovery means (95) havingthe function of removing the waste residues of the second sheet (F2)from the second suction plate (93) after the third circular piece (S3)and the fourth circular piece (S4) have been collected from the secondcollecting position (C2) and positioned on the first half-shell (21) andon the second half-shell (23) of the plate (2) of the second carousel(G2).

The second cutting means (T2) of the second feeder group (A2) comprisesecond cylindrical cutting elements (T20, T21) and wherein the secondsuction plate (93) comprises corresponding circular grooves (930, 931)having a shape corresponding to the second cylindrical cutting elements(T20, T21) so as to be able to accommodate internally thereof an endpart of the second cylindrical cutting elements (T20, T21) and enablethe second cylindrical cutting elements (T20, T21) to cut the thirdcircular piece (S3) and the fourth circular piece (S4) in the secondsheet (F2) retained by suction by the second suction plate (93).

In fact, an especially advantageous aspect is constituted by the factthat the plates (1) of the first series of plates (1) are removablymounted on the first carousel (G1), and the plates (2) of the secondseries of plates (2) are removably mounted on the second carousel (G2).

In this way, the apparatus (100) of the invention can be predisposedaccording to various configurations and installations, also according tothe type of use that is to be made thereof, such as for example thejust-in-time preparation of single packages requested directly by thefinal customer, or the realising of industrial productions on a broaderscale.

For example, in a first and basic version of installation, utilisabledirectly in commercial concerns, such as for example pharmacies, eachplate of the first series of plates can be realised in such a way as tocomprise a single first support and a single second support.

In this way, the first carousel will be predisposed to realise one podat a time; in this regard the various work stations associated to thefirst carousel will be configured and predisposed so as to have therelative operating components destined to carry out the operations ofrealising one pod at a time (as described in the foregoing).

Correspondingly, each plate of the second series of plates can berealised in such a way as to comprise a single first half-shell and asingle second half-shell, and the second carousel will be predisposed torealise a cladding for the pod obtained from the first carousel toobtain one final biodegradable packaging at a time. For this purpose,the work stations associated to the second carousel will also beconfigured and predisposed so as to have the relative operatingcomponents destined to carry out the operations of cladding a pod toobtain one relative final package at a time (as described in theforegoing).

An apparatus as described above will be overall modest in size and thiswill mean it can be use directly within a commercial concern, to whichcustomers can go directly and directly request a personalised realisingof biodegradable packagings containing a product for preparation of abeverage, in particular herbal teas or infusions that can be realisedstarting from the combination and mixing of particular herbs which canbe packaged in the pod made of polylactic acid and clad with Ecoralene.

In the case of installations including use in industrial settings, firstplates can be mounted on the first carousel which comprise 4 firstsupports and 4 second supports (as illustrated in the figures), whichenables four pods to be made at a time, while correspondingly, secondplates can be mounted on the second carousel, which comprise 4 firsthalf-shells and 4 second half-shells, so as to be able to clad four podsat a time and obtain four biodegradable packagings at a time.

Clearly, the various work stations associated to the two carousels willbe configured in such a way as to have a corresponding number ofoperating components in order to carry out the above-describedoperations at each pause of the plates, and the reels of polylactic acidand Ecoralene will have the corresponding dimensions which enablecutting relative sheets of suitable dimensions for cutting therefrom 4first and second circular pieces of polylactic acid, as well as 4 thirdand fourth circular pieces of Ecoralene.

To increase the number of final packages obtainable in the time unit(for example per minute) it is possible also to mount, on the twocarousels, first plates with 8 or 16 first supports and second supports,and 8 or 16 first half-shells and second half-shells, and consequentlyto set up the various work stations associated to the two carousels withthe corresponding number of operating components and the two feedergroups with reels of adequate dimensions to obtain 8 or 16 first andsecond circular pieces made of PLA, and also 8 or 16 third and fourthcircular pieces made of Ecoralene.

In this regard, the two carousels can be predisposed in such a way as tobe able to adjust and vary the reciprocal position, enabling plates ofdifferent dimensions to be fitted.

1. An apparatus for realising a biodegradable packaging of a product forpreparation of beverages, comprising: a first feeder group, forunwinding a first film of biodegradable material, in particular a firstfilm made of polylactic acid, from a first reel of biodegradablematerial and for cutting the first film so as to obtain a first sheetand comprising first cutting means configured and activatable to cut thefirst sheet so as to obtain at least a first circular piece and at leasta second circular piece, wherein the at least a first circular piece hasa greater diameter than the at least a second circular piece and hasdimensions that are such as to enable folding thereof in order to form ahollow body having a circular base and a lateral wall, the first feedergroup being configured in such a way as to position the first circularpiece and the second circular piece at a first collecting position; afirst rotary carousel, configured in such a way as to be activatable inrotation about a first vertical axis of rotation, comprising a firstseries of plates angularly arranged with respect to one another aboutthe first vertical axis of rotation, wherein each plate comprises afirst support, comprising suction holes, configured to receive andretain, by suction, the first circular piece, and a second support,comprising suction holes, configured to receive and retain, by suction,the second circular piece, the first support being conformed in such away as to centrally comprise a cylindrical housing having a diametersmaller than the diameter of the first circular piece, and so as tocomprise a plate provided with suction holes, predisposed internally ofthe cylindrical housing so as to be translatable vertically with respectto the cylindrical housing, between a raised position and a loweredposition, wherein the first carousel is arranged with respect to thefirst feeder group and is activatable in angular rotation about thefirst vertical axis of rotation according to successive angularrotations so that, at each angular rotation, a plate at a time of thefirst series of plates is positioned in a first angular positionsituated at the first collecting position wherein the first feeder grouppositions the first circular piece and the second circular piece, sothat the first circular piece can be collected from the first feedergroup and positioned on the first support, with the plate in a raisedposition at the upper end of the cylindrical housing, which retain thefirst circular piece by suction, and the second circular piece can becollected from the first feeder group and positioned on the secondsupport which retains it by suction, the first carousel beingactivatable in angular rotation about the first vertical axis ofrotation in successive angular rotations so as to position, at eachangular rotation, the plate of the first carousel with the firstcircular piece and the second circular piece paused in successiveangular positions at relative work stations which are configured in sucha way that at which, in succession: an internal circular portion of thefirst circular piece is pushed into the cylindrical housing, togetherwith the lowering of the plate, so as to fold an external circularportion with respect to the internal circular portion and form a hollowbody having a circular base, defined by the internal circular portion,and a lateral wall defined by the external circular portion folded withrespect to the internal circular portion; a product for preparing abeverage is inserted and dosed in the hollow body so as to fill a partof the volume of the hollow body in such a way that an upper portion ofthe lateral wall of the hollow body is free and not occupied by theproduct; the upper portion of the lateral wall of the hollow body isbent by means of pleating with respect to the lateral wall of the hollowbody to form a pleated crown above the product contained in the hollowbody and the second circular piece is collected from the second supportand positioned above the pleated crown, carrying out a welding, to forma closing cover and close the hollow body in such a way as to obtain apod containing the product for preparation of a beverage; the apparatusfurther comprising: a second feeder group, for unwinding a second filmof biodegradable material, in particular a second film made ofEcoralene, from a second reel of biodegradable material and for cuttingthe second film so as to obtain a second sheet and comprising secondcutting means configured and activatable to cut the second sheet so asto obtain at least a third circular piece and at least a fourth circularpiece, wherein the at least third circular piece and the at least fourthcircular piece have a diameter that is substantially identical to oneanother and that is of greater dimensions than the diameter of the podobtained on the plate of the first series of plates of the firstcarousel, the second feeder group being configured in such a way as toposition the third circular piece and the fourth circular piece at asecond collecting position; a second rotary carousel, arranged flankedto the first carousel and configured in such a way as to be activatablein rotation about a second vertical axis of rotation, comprising asecond series of plates angularly arranged with respect to one anotherabout the second vertical axis of rotation, wherein each plate of thesecond series of plates of the second carousel comprises a firsthalf-shell, provided with suction holes, and a second half-shell,provided with suction holes, hinged to one another and configured insuch a way as to be activatable between a splayed position, in whichthey are splayed with respect to one another, and a superposed position,wherein they are superposed on one another and closed to one another,the first half-shell and the second half-shell having dimensions such asto be able to receive internally thereof respectively the third circularpiece and the fourth circular piece, wherein the second carousel isarranged with respect to the second feeder group and is activatable inangular rotation about the second vertical axis of rotation according tosuccessive angular rotations so that, at each angular rotation, oneplate at a time of the second series of plates, with the firsthalf-shell and the second half-shell in the splayed position, ispositioned in a first angular position situated at the second collectingposition wherein the second feeder group positions the third circularpiece and the fourth circular piece, so that the third circular piececan be collected from the second feeder group and then pushed andpositioned in the first half-shell to form a first valve-shaped element,which is retained by suction in the first half-shell, and the fourthcircular piece can be collected from the second feeder group and thenpushed and positioned in the second half-shell to form a secondvalve-shaped element, which is retained by suction in the secondhalf-shell, the second carousel being thus activatable in rotation aboutthe second vertical axis of rotation with an angular rotation such as toposition the plate, with the first valve-shaped element retained bysuction in the first half-shell and the second valve-shaped elementretained by suction in the second half-shell, in a successive angularposition at a work station in which the first valve-shaped element isheat-formed internally of the first half-shell, into an annularperipheral portion and a first seat such as to be able to accommodate alower part of the pod formed on the plate of the first carousel, and thesecond valve-shaped element is heat-formed internally of the secondhalf-shell, into an annular peripheral portion and a second seat such asto be able to accommodate the upper part of the pod formed on the plateof the first carousel; the first carousel, with the relative plate ofthe first series of plates which bears the pod, and the second carousel,with the relative plate of the second series of plates bearing the twoheat-formed valve-shaped elements retained by suction by the twohalf-shells, being activatable in rotation according to relative angularrotations so as to position the plate, with the pod, and the plate, withthe valve-shaped elements, in respective successive angular positionsopposite one another, so that the pod can be collected and positioned inthe first seat of the first valve-shaped element retained by aspirationby the first half-shell, with a lower part of the pod in the first seat,and the second half-shell can thus be activated into the superposedposition, so as to superpose on the first half-shell, and position thesecond valve-shaped element, retained thereby by suction, above thefirst valve-shaped element and with an upper part of the pod beingaccommodated in the second seat of the second valve-shaped element, andso that the annular peripheral portion of the second valve-shapedelement superposes on the annular peripheral portion of the firstvalve-shaped element, wherein the second carousel is thus consequentlyactivatable in angular rotation about the second vertical axis ofrotation according to successive angular rotations so as to position, ateach angular rotation, the plate of the second series of plates with thetwo half-shells in the superposed position, and the two valve-shapedelements, superposed on one another and internally containing the pod,in successive angular positions at relative work stations which areconfigured in such a way that at which, in succession: the secondhalf-shell, once the suction action has been deactivated so as torelease the second valve-shaped element, is returned into the splayedposition from the first half-shell, and the first valve-shaped elementand the second valve-shaped element are heat-welded at the relativeperipheral annular portions superposed on one another in such a way asto seal the pod internally thereof and obtain a sealed biodegradablepackaging of a product for preparation of a beverage; the sealedbiodegradable packaging containing a product for preparation of abeverage is collected from the plate of the second series of plates ofthe second carousel and transferred onto a conveyor means.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, comprising: a first collecting work station, atthe first collecting position wherein the first feeder group positionsthe first circular piece and the second circular piece and at the firstangular position wherein the plate of the first series of plates ispositioned by the first carousel, comprising collecting means configuredand activatable to collect the first circular piece and the secondcircular piece from the first feeder group and to position the firstcircular piece on the first support of the plate, so that the firstcircular piece is centred with respect to the cylindrical housing sothat an internal circular portion of the first circular piece is at thecylindrical housing and resting on the plate, the plate being positionedin a raised position with respect to the cylindrical housing at theupper end of the cylindrical housing, and an external circular portionof the first circular piece is external of the cylindrical housing, andin such a way that the first support and the plate can retain the firstcircular piece by suction, and in order to position the second circularpiece on the second support of the plate, so that the second support canretain the second circular piece by suction; a second folding andheat-forming work station, at a second angular position wherein theplate of the first carousel, with the first circular piece and thesecond circular piece being retained by suction by the first support andthe second support, is positioned following an angular rotation of thefirst carousel, comprising first folding and heat-welding means that areconfigured and activatable in synchrony with the lowering of the platewith respect to the cylindrical housing of the first support towards arelative lowered position, in order to push the internal circularportion of the first circular piece in the cylindrical housing in such away as to fold the external circular portion with respect to theinternal circular portion and to heat-form a hollow body having acircular base, defined by the internal circular portion, and a lateralwall defined by the external circular portion folded with respect to theinternal circular portion, a third dosing work station, at a thirdangular position wherein the plate of the first carousel, with thehollow body formed in the cylindrical housing of the first support andthe second circular piece retained by suction by the second support, ispositioned following an angular rotation of the first carousel,comprising dosing means which are configured for dosing a product forpreparing a beverage in the hollow body so as to fill a part of thevolume of the hollow body in such a way that an upper portion of thelateral wall of the hollow body is free and not occupied by the product;a fourth folding and closing work station, at a fourth angular positionwherein the plate of the first carousel, with the hollow body in thecylindrical housing of the first support filled with the product forpreparing a beverage and the second circular piece retained by suctionby the second support, is positioned following an angular rotation ofthe first carousel, comprising second folding means which are configuredand activatable so as to be able to fold the upper portion of thelateral wall of the hollow body with respect to the lateral wall bymeans of pleating, to form a pleated crown above the product containedin the hollow body, and comprising gripping and welding means configuredto grip the second circular piece from the second support and toposition the second circular piece above the pleated crown, carrying outa welding to form a closing cover and close the hollow body in such away as to obtain a pod containing the product for preparation of abeverage; a fifth collecting work station, at the second collectingposition wherein the second feeder group positions the third circularpiece and the fourth circular piece and at the first angular positionwherein the plate of the second series of plates is positioned by thesecond carousel, with the first half-shell and the second half-shell inthe splayed position, comprising second collecting means configured andactivatable to collect the third circular piece and the fourth circularpiece from the second feeder group and to position the third circularpiece in the first half-shell, pushing the third circular piece into thefirst half-shell so that the third circular piece adheres to the wallsof the first half-shell and is retained by suction by the firsthalf-shell, forming a first valve-shaped element, and to position thefourth circular piece in the second half-shell, pushing the fourthcircular piece into the second half-shell so that the fourth circularpiece adheres to the walls of the second half-shell and is retained bysuction by the second half-shell, forming a second valve-shaped element;a sixth heat-forming work station, at a second angular position whereinthe plate of the second carousel, with the first valve-shaped elementretained by suction in the first half-shell and with the secondvalve-shaped element, retained by suction in the second half-shell, ispositioned following an angular rotation of the second carousel,comprising heat-forming means which are configured and activatable toinsert in the first half-shell and the second half-shell and go intocontact with the first valve-shaped element and the second valve-shapedelement, the heat-forming means being conformed so as to heat-form thefirst valve-shaped element so that the first valve-shaped elementcomprises an annular peripheral portion and a first seat such as to beable to accommodate a lower part of the pod formed in the fourth foldingand closing work station on the plate of the first carousel, and so asto heat-form the second valve-shaped element so that the secondvalve-shaped element comprises an annular peripheral portion and asecond seat such as to be able to accommodate the upper part of the podformed in the fourth folding and closing work station on the plate ofthe first carousel; a seventh collecting and transferring work stationof the pod, at a fifth angular position in which the plate of the firstcarousel, with the pod containing the product for the preparation of abeverage formed in the fourth folding and closing work station, ispositioned following an angular rotation of the first carousel and at athird angular position in which the plate of the second carousel, withthe first valve-shaped element heat-formed and retained by suction inthe first half-shell and the second valve-shaped element, heat-formedand retained by suction in the second half-shell, is positionedfollowing an angular rotation of the second carousel so that it isopposite the plate of the first carousel, comprising collecting andtransfer means that are configured and activatable to collect the podand transfer and position the pod in the first seat of the firstvalve-shaped element so that a lower part of the pod is accommodated inthe first seat, and wherein the second half-shell is subsequentlyactivated in the superposed position, so as to superpose on the firsthalf-shell so as to position the second valve-shaped element, retainedthereby by suction, above the first valve-shaped element, in such a waythat an upper part of the pod is accommodated in the second seat of thesecond valve-shaped element and so that the annular peripheral portionof the second valve-shaped element superposes on the annular peripheralportion of the first valve-shaped element; an eighth heat-welding andsealing station, at a fourth angular position in which the plate of thesecond carousel, with the two valve-shaped elements, superposed on oneanother and internally containing the pod is positioned following afurther angular rotation of the second carousel, comprising heat-formingand sealing means which are configured and activatable, once the secondhalf-shell is returned into the splayed position with respect to thefirst half-shell, to heat-weld the first valve-shaped element and thesecond valve-shaped element at the relative peripheral annular portionssuperposed on one another in such a way as to seal the pod internallythereof and obtain a sealed biodegradable packaging of a product forpreparation of a beverage; a ninth outfeed work station, at a fifthangular position wherein the plate of the second carousel, with thebiodegradable packaging sealed, obtained in the eighth heat-welding andsealing work station, is positioned following a further angular rotationof the second carousel, comprising second collecting and transfer means,which are configured and activatable to collect the biodegradablepackaging and transfer the biodegradable packaging onto the conveyormeans.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising a compression workstation, associated to the first carousel between the third dosing workstation and the fourth folding and closing work station, at a firstintermediate angular position, between the third angular position andthe fourth angular position, wherein the plate of the first carousel,with the hollow body filled with the product for preparation of abeverage, supported by the plate in the cylindrical housing of the firstsupport and the second circular piece retained by suction by the secondsupport, is positioned following an angular rotation of the firstcarousel, the compression work station comprising compression meanswhich are configured and activatable to insert in the hollow body andpush downwards, rotating about a vertical axis of rotation, the productfor preparing a beverage contained in the hollow body so as to compressit, reducing the volume thereof.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, comprisinga compacting and sealing work station, associated to the first carouselbetween the fourth folding and closing work station and the seventhcollecting and transferring work station, at a second intermediateangular position, between the fourth angular position and the fifthangular position, wherein the plate of the first carousel, with the podcontaining the product for preparation of a beverage supported by theplate of the first support, is positioned following an angular rotationof the first carousel, the compacting and sealing work stationcomprising compacting and sealing means which are configured andactivatable to be lowered towards the plate, in synchrony with theraising of the plate into the raised position to raise the pod beyondthe cylindrical housing of the first support, so as to be able to abutthe pod and compact the pod, reducing the overall volume there, and sealit completely.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the compacting andsealing means comprise a sonotrode which is configured in such a way asto be vertically activatable and be lowered towards the plate and abutthe pod raised by the plate beyond the cylindrical housing of the firstsupport, in order to compact the pod, completely sealing it.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein the compacting and sealing means comprisea pusher element, vertically movable, provided with a welding cartridge.7. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising a first cleaning station,associated to the first carousel, between the seventh collecting andtransferring work station of the pod and the first collecting workstation, at a third intermediate angular position, between the fifthangular position and the first angular position, wherein the plate ofthe first carousel is positioned after the pod has been transferred ontothe plate of the second carousel, and so that any eventual working wastecan be removed and the first support, with the relative suction holes,the plate, with the relative suction holes and the second support, withthe relative suction holes, can be subjected to cleaning operations. 8.The apparatus of claim 2, comprising a first pre-welding station,associated to the second carousel, between the seventh collecting andtransferring work station and the eighth heat-welding and sealing workstation, at a first intermediate angular position, between the thirdangular position and the fourth angular position, wherein the plate ofthe second carousel, with the two half-shells in the superposed positionthereof with the two valve-shaped elements, superposed on one anotherand internally containing the pod, is positioned following an angularrotation of the second carousel, the first pre-welding stationcomprising spot welding means comprising a vertically movable element,which is provided with heated contact rods, the movable element beingconfigured and activatable to be vertically lowered towards the secondhalf-shell, closed above the first half-shell, so that the heatedcontact rods pass through through-holes realised in the secondhalf-shell so that the heated contact rods reach into contact with thesuperposed annular portions of the valve-shaped elements, in order tocarry out the reciprocal welding in the contact points with the heatedcontact rods.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a secondpre-welding station, associated to the second carousel, between thefirst pre-welding station work station and the eighth heat-welding andsealing work station, at a second intermediate angular position, betweenthe first intermediate angular position and the fourth angular position,wherein the plate of the second carousel, with the two half-shells inthe superposed position thereof and the two valve-shaped elements,superposed on one another and internally containing the pod andpre-welded to one another with weld spots at the relative annularportions, is positioned following an angular rotation of the secondcarousel, the second pre-welding station comprising a ring heat weldingelement which is configured and activatable in order to be verticallytranslatable and lowerable towards the plate, once the secondhalf-shell, with the suction action deactivated to release the secondvalve-shaped element, is moved into the splayed position with respect tothe first half-shell, in order to abut the superposed annular portionsof the two valve-shaped elements and carry out a ring welding thereof.10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ring welding using the ringheat welding element is carried out in a controlled-atmosphereenvironment following the partial raising of the second half-shell fromthe first half-shell so as to expose the mutually-superposed twovalve-shaped elements, and pre-welded to one another with weld spots atthe relative annular portions, and internally containing the pod, to thecontrolled-atmosphere environment, and subsequently to an aspiration ofoxygen from the controlled-atmosphere environment, in order to removethe residual oxygen inside the two valve-shaped elements, and to aninjection of inert gas into the controlled-atmosphere environment, sothat the inert gas inserts between the two valve-shaped elements. 11.The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second pre-welding stationcomprises a bell element configured and activatable in verticaltranslation so as to be lowered and positioned on the plate of thesecond carousel so as to create a controlled-atmosphere environmentwhich contains the two half-shells closed in the superposed positionthereof, and containing the two valve-shaped elements, superposed on oneanother, pre-welded to one another with weld spots in the relativeannular portions, and internally containing the pod, with the bellelement which is provided with a first conduit, connected to an oxygenaspiration source, and with a second conduit, connected to an inert gasinjection source, the ring heat welding element being mounted on thebell element vertically movable with respect to the bell element so asto be lowered towards the plate, against the recall action of elasticmeans.
 12. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising detecting meanspredisposed so as to detect the height and integrity of thebiodegradable packaging borne by the plate of the second series ofplates of the second carousel during the passage of the plate betweenthe eighth heat-welding and sealing work station and the ninth outfeedwork station, so that any packages that are defective or have adifferent height to a predetermined height are not collected by thesecond collecting and transfer means and are left on the second plate,and comprising a second cleaning station, associated to the secondcarousel, between the ninth outfeed work station and the fifthcollecting work station, at a third intermediate angular position,between the fifth angular position and the first angular position,wherein the plate of the second carousel is positioned following anangular rotation of the second carousel, so that any defective packagesleft on the second plate can be removed and the first half-shell, withthe relative suction holes, and the second half-shell, with the relativesuction holes, can be subjected to cleaning operations.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the collecting means of the firstcollecting work station comprise a suction plate mounted by means ofrelative rods on a support frame that is rotatable about a horizontalaxis of rotation, wherein the rods are mounted translatably with respectto the frame in order to enable the suction plate to be translateddistancingly or nearingly from or to the frame.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the first support is conformed so as to comprise radialseats arranged radially with respect to the cylindrical housing and ismounted on the plate in such a way as to be activatable in rotationabout a vertical axis of rotation that is axial to the cylindricalhousing, and wherein the first folding and heat-welding means of thesecond folding and heat-forming work station comprise: a firstcylindrical pusher element, heatable by means of a resistance, andactivatable in vertical translation to be lowered towards the plate inorder to abut the internal circular portion of the first circular pieceand push it into the cylindrical housing so that the external circularportion of the first circular on, external with respect to thecylindrical housing and to the internal circular portion, is folded withrespect to the internal circular portion forming the hollow body withthe base wall and the lateral wall; and comprise a second pusher elementconformed and configured in such a way as to comprise a series of radialpaddles, activatable in vertical translation, so as to be lowered insynchrony with the first pusher element towards the plate, so that theseries of radial paddles abut radial portions of the external circularportion of the first circular piece and push the radial portions intothe radial seats of the cylindrical housing, so as to form radial tabsprojecting externally from the lateral wall of the hollow body, andwherein the second pusher element is activatable in vertical translationraising with respect to the radial seats of the cylindrical housing soas to disengage from the cylindrical housing so that the first support,with the first pusher element maintained in the cylindrical housing incontact with the hollow body and heated by the resistance, can beactivated in rotation about the vertical axis of rotation that is axialwith respect to the cylindrical housing so as to fold the radial tabsagainst the lateral wall of the hollow body, with the first pusherelement being activatable in vertical translation in order to bedistanced from the cylindrical housing and in order to disengage fromthe hollow body.
 15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the secondfolding means in the fourth folding and closing work station comprise aseries of blades hinged to one another and reciprocally arranged in sucha way as to form between them a central opening and activatable inreciprocal rotation with respect to one another in order to be able tonarrow the central opening, and wherein, when the plate is positioned bythe first carousel in the fourth angular position at the fourth foldingand closing work station with the hollow body formed in the cylindricalhousing of the first support and containing the product for preparationof a beverage, the plate is activatable in vertical translation in orderto be raised with respect to the cylindrical housing and to raise andposition the hollow body so that the upper portion of the lateral wallof the hollow body not occupied and free of the product inserts in thecentral opening present between the blades, with the blades being thenactivatable in rotation with respect to one another, about the relativehinge points, so as to narrow the central opening in order to abut theupper portion and fold the upper portion with respect to the lateralwall of the hollow body, carrying out a folding with pleating andforming a pleated crown above the product contained in the hollow body.16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second collecting means in thefifth collecting work station comprise a second suction plate on whichare mounted, translatably with respect to the second suction plate, apair of pusher elements, wherein the second suction plate is movablefrom a first position, at the second collecting position wherein thesecond feeder group positions the third circular piece and the fourthcircular piece, wherein the second suction plate collects, by suction,the third circular piece and the fourth circular piece, at a secondposition above the first half-shell and the second half-shell of theplate positioned by the second carousel in the first angular position,so as to position the third circular piece above the first half-shelland the fourth circular piece above the second half-shell, the pair ofpusher elements, following the deactivation of the suction of the secondsuction plate, being translatable with respect to the second suctionplate to push the third circular piece into the first half-shell, sothat the third circular piece adheres to the walls of the firsthalf-shell and is retained by suction by the first half-shell, formingthe first valve-shaped element, and to push the fourth circular piece inthe second half-shell, so that the fourth circular piece adheres to thewalls of the second half-shell and is retained by suction by the secondhalf-shell, forming the second valve-shaped element.
 17. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein the second collecting and transfer means in theninth outfeed work station comprise a suction gripping member movablefrom a first position, wherein the suction gripping member ispositionable above the plate, positioned by the second carousel in thefifth angular position, at the first half-shell which bears thebiodegradable packaging, so as to collect, by suction, the biodegradablepackaging, at a second position, wherein it is above the conveyor means,in order to release the biodegradable packaging above the conveyormeans, wherein the suction gripping member is provided with a circularcutting member dimensioned and configured so as to perform a circularcut on the peripheral annular portions of the two valve-shaped elementsheat-welded and sealed to one another in such a way as to define a finalshape for the biodegradable packaging that is exactly circular.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein the conveyor means comprises a load cellconfigured and predisposed to detect the weight of the biodegradablepackaging, and a trapdoor raisable to cause the packaging to falltowards a reject station in a case in which there is a non-conformingweight with respect to an ideal weight.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first feeder group comprises: first unwinding means, forunwinding a first film of biodegradable material from the first reel,first positioning means, for positioning an advanced portion of thefirst film into a vertical position, and a first knife to cut theadvanced portion of the first film and obtain the first sheet; at leasta first suction plate borne by a first frame which is activatable inrotation about a vertical axis and configured to position the firstsuction plate in four angular positions that are consecutive to oneanother; wherein, in a first angular position, the first suction plateis positioned at the first sheet cut from the first film so that thefirst suction plate can retain the first sheet by suction, wherein, in asecond angular position, the first suction plate is positioned at thefirst cutting means, activatable to cut the first circular piece and thesecond circular piece from the first sheet, wherein, in a third angularposition, the first suction plate is positioned, with the first sheet inwhich the first circular piece and the second circular piece have beencut and retained by suction, in the first collecting position of thefirst circular piece and the second circular piece, and wherein, in afourth angular position, the first suction plate is positioned at firstwaste recovery means having the function of removing the waste residuesof the first sheet from the first plate after the first circular pieceand the second circular piece have been collected from the firstcollecting position and positioned on the first support and on thesecond support of the plate of the first carousel.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 19, wherein the first cutting means of the first feeder groupcomprise first cylindrical cutting elements and wherein the firstsuction plate comprises circular grooves having a shape corresponding tothe first cylindrical cutting elements so as to be able to accommodateinternally thereof an end part of the first cylindrical cutting elementsand enable the first cylindrical cutting elements to cut the firstcircular piece and the second circular piece in the first sheet retainedby suction by the first suction plate.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the second feeder group comprises: second unwinding means, forunwinding the second film of biodegradable material from the secondreel, second positioning means, for positioning an advanced portion ofthe second film in a vertical position, and a second knife to cut theadvanced portion of the second film and obtain the second sheet; atleast a second suction plate borne by a second frame which isactivatable in rotation about a vertical axis and configured to positionthe second suction plate in four angular positions, consecutive to oneanother; wherein, in a first angular position, the second suction plateis positioned at the second sheet cut from the second film so that thesecond suction plate can retain the second sheet by suction, wherein, ina second angular position, the second suction plate is positioned at thesecond cutting means, activatable to cut the third circular piece andthe fourth circular piece from the second sheet, wherein, in a thirdangular position, the second suction plate is positioned, with thesecond sheet in which the third circular piece and the fourth circularpiece have been cut and retained by suction, in the second collectingposition of the third circular piece and the fourth circular piece, andwherein, in a fourth angular position, the second suction plate is atsecond waste recovery means having the function of removing the wasteresidues of the second sheet from the second suction plate after thethird circular piece and the fourth circular piece have been collectedfrom the second collecting position and positioned on the firsthalf-shell and on the second half-shell of the plate of the secondcarousel.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second cuttingmeans of the second feeder group comprise second cylindrical cuttingelements and wherein the second suction plate comprises correspondingcircular grooves having a shape corresponding to the second cylindricalcutting elements so as to be able to accommodate internally thereof anend part of the second cylindrical cutting elements and enable thesecond cylindrical cutting elements to cut the third circular piece andthe fourth circular piece in the second sheet retained by suction by thesecond suction plate.